#371
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If I were to move from WW, where does the WW Gold line up with the TA models?
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Wilson Audio Alexia + Mezzo | Dan D'Agostino Momentum PRE & S250 | Esoteric P02x & D02x | Torus AVR2-16 | Marantz AV8805 | Panasonic UB9000 | Bryston 7B3 & 9BSST2 | ScreenTechnics 125" 2.37 Screen | JVC X7900 | Krix A20 (4) | JL Audio F113 (2) |
#372
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I own Transparent Ref XL with MM2 technology ... balanced interconnects and speaker cables. I have done the opposite as you ... I am transitioning from TA to WW. I now own WW Gold 7 speaker cables and could not be happier. The Gold is clearly better to my ears. With regards to MM2 tech, only 2 levels above Ref XL, namely MM and Opus. I would wager WW GE7 is in competition with MM level. I have directly A/B compared Ref XL interconnects and SILVER ECLIPSE 7 interconnects and I could not hear ANY loss of SQ with the much, much cheaper WW cable. This comparison was between my Esoteric K01X and McIntosh C500. The TA cable was tuned specifically for my gear. I was shocked!
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Preamp: McIntosh C1100T/C1100C, McIntosh MX180 Amp: McIntosh MC611 (2), MC601 (3), MI254 Digital: McIntosh D1100, McIntosh MCT450, Meridian 808v6, Aurender N20, Aurender ACS10, Oppo 203 Analog: McIntosh MT10, Hana Umami Red Phono preamp: Simaudio Moon 610LP, 820S Signal cables: WW Gold Eclipse 7 speaker cables; Shunyata Sigma v2 XLR (2); Sigma v1 XLR (2), Transparent Ref XL (MM2) XLR; WW Silver Eclipse 7 (4) Digital cables: Shunyata Omega USB, Omega Ethernet, Sigma Ethernet; WW Platinum 7 Coax, AES/EBU Switch: Innuos PhoenixNet Power: Audioquest Niagara 7000, Audioquest 5000, Audioquest Dragon, Hurricane PC, Shunyata Alpha HC, AQ NRG Edison outlets, (8) 20 amp dedicated lines, 125 amp subpanel Speakers: Wilson Sasha DAW, Dynaudio Contour 30, Dynaudio Contour 25C Subs: REL s/812 (6), REL s/510 (3) Accessories: HRS M3X2 shelf (MT10), Stillpoints Ultra II v2 w/ bases (21), Ultra SS (12), Mini (12), LPi v1 Sound treaments: Artnovion |
#373
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Thanks for the honest and frank comparison. And now you don't have to deal with where to put any boxes. I was an MIT guy before WW and couldn't be happier.
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Wilson Yvette speakers, Conrad-Johnson ART88 pre, TEA1bc phono, and ART27A Amplifier, Marantz digital player, Rega Planar 10 turntable / Apheta 3 cartridge,Wireworld Gold and Platinum Eclipse IC and speaker, I AQ Hurricane, Tornado power cables, Shunyata Denali 2 conditioner, dCS Bartok DAC/Streamer Last edited by Coppy; 04-10-2017 at 04:59 PM. |
#374
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Quote:
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Wilson Audio Alexia + Mezzo | Dan D'Agostino Momentum PRE & S250 | Esoteric P02x & D02x | Torus AVR2-16 | Marantz AV8805 | Panasonic UB9000 | Bryston 7B3 & 9BSST2 | ScreenTechnics 125" 2.37 Screen | JVC X7900 | Krix A20 (4) | JL Audio F113 (2) |
#375
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I have done the opposite: from WW to Transparent Reference xl mm2. Much better soundstage and explosive real dynamics; percussion sails out over the full orchestra.
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#376
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You pay your money and you take your choice.
That said MM2 is a 10 year old design. G5 is what the comparison should be. |
#377
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Whats the go with all the MM2 version numbers, I noticed on the back of some network boxes they have:
MMxxxx MM2 Or MM2 xxxx Are some original MM which have been upgraded to MM2?
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Wilson Audio Alexia + Mezzo | Dan D'Agostino Momentum PRE & S250 | Esoteric P02x & D02x | Torus AVR2-16 | Marantz AV8805 | Panasonic UB9000 | Bryston 7B3 & 9BSST2 | ScreenTechnics 125" 2.37 Screen | JVC X7900 | Krix A20 (4) | JL Audio F113 (2) |
#378
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I recently purchased Gen 5 Transparent XL XLR interconnects. I am having trouble pulling the cables at the source end. It appears the push tab in not going deep enough to release the latch. I have tried pushing it with screw driver but no luck!. Any bright ideas out there. Even to return or send them for repair, I have to pull them out somehow!
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Aurender A30 -> Mac C1100 -> 2 x Mac MC611 > Franco Serblin Accordo Essence + Pair of REL Carbon Special Aurender A10 -> Mac C1100 -> 2 x Mac MC611 > Joseph Audio PERSPECTIVE2 Graphene VPI 40th. Anniversary Direct Drive -> Audio Research Ref. 3 Phono Aurender A10 -> Ref 6 -> GS150 > PMC Fact 12 McIntosh MCD500 -> C1100 - >MC452 > PMC Fact 12 Aurender A10 -> -> E470 > PMC Fact 12 Speakers: Monitor Audio PL200 , , Monitor Audio GX200 PMC Fact 12 Tidal -> Aurender S10 -> Accuphase DC-37 -> Accuphase E-470 -> Monitor Audio GX200 Tidal -> Aurender S10 -> MD108T Signature DAC -> Mcintosh C1100 ->McIntosh MC452 -> JBL 4344 |
#379
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While I'm not in the high-rent district by any means, I'll share some more recent experience with Transparent.
Late last year I bought a 1m HPPC for my C2300 preamp. It replaced a WW Electra 7 which was giving me IEC connection issues; the cord would droop and lose connection. So I didn't buy the HPPC expecting improvements; I wanted a solid IEC connection. What a difference, especially in the low frequencies! Things were more solid, more dynamic, fuller. Then earlier this year I bought two 2m HPPCs for my 501s, replacing WW Electra 5.2s. The difference was again noticeable. In between I got two pair of Plus ICs for my two main sources and the highs are a bit smoother than the Kimber Hero they replaced, but the power cords are making a bigger difference to my ears. I tried a 2m HPPC on my SACD, replacing a WW Stratus 7, with the Electra 5.2s back on the amps; some of the weight and impact was lost (suggesting that the best cords may belong on the amps), and with the Stratus on the SACD a lot of that LF response was lost. The sound was noticeably flat on Close to the Edge, not dynamic at all. But having just bought two more 1m HPPCs, I put one on my BD player, one on my phono preamp, and put the 2m HPPCs back on my amps. Order has been restored; the sound was what I'm used to, and perhaps there was a bit more detail in some of the DVDs. So I'm moving to all HPPC on sources (except for my LD player perhaps, which is lightly used, would need a C7 IEC [$70 extra], and is 19 years old), and am about to get another pair of HPPCs for my SACD and tuner. All this because one power cord wouldn't hold its IEC connection consistently.
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SOTA, Grado, SME, Van den Hul, Gingko turntable setup; Pioneer Elite LD, BDP; Sony OLED TV; Magnum Dynalab tuner, antenna; MIT S-video cable; Pangea HDMI cables; DVDO video processor; McIntosh SACD, preamp, power amps; Telefunken Black Diamond preamp tubes; Kimber IC; Transparent IC, PC, SC; Mirage speakers; PS Audio, Shunyata PC; Audio Additives RCA caps; Furman power conditioning; Sanus: racks |
#380
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Well I just "went for it" and ordered 2 pair of Ref Gen5 balanced interconnect and Ref Gen5 speaker cables.
I honestly did NOT want to do this, I went into it kicking and screaming. Why? I had Reference (MM2) speaker cables already, but I had TA "Super" interconnects for the last several years. Over the years I have tried a few different interconnects, but did not hear much of a difference. I began to consider them "snake oil" and wanted to just stay away. I figured there can't be much difference between what I have and anything else out there. Maybe a tiny difference, but who cares. But then a few things happened. One, I bought a K-01x. It represents a new level of refinement for my rig. Honestly when I got it, I wasn't too thrilled with it because it didn't blow away my K-03 non X. A lot of people told me my bottleneck was the IC's but I figured whatever, I am not changing, it's probably snake oil. Then, I bought Alexia's and when the dealer set them up, they brought their own cables along. They brought Ref Gen5 IC's, SC's, and a few power cords. They also brought a Linn DAC. What I heard during their setup blew me away. My system was not improved by a notch...it was almost "twice as good". I know it's hard to quantify such a thing. But WOW. When they left, my trusty supers were hooked back up and everything went a bit flat. Yes, with my gear plus the new Alexia's everything still sounded "very good" but it sure didn't sound like WOW. So I borrowed the Ref gen5 to keep for a week. All I can say is, I have been leaving a LOT of musical bliss on the table. These cables unlocked the magic of the K-01x and the Alexia's. They have really kicked it up a nice notch. I'd say it's a good 7-10% better than with the other cables. This was evident in a few key areas: The cheaper IC's and SC's "smeared" many of the transients. They "rounded" some of the treble and detail. They made the bass sound a bit tubby. With the Ref gen5 cables, this was all cleared up. Bass gained texture and depth. Transients became crystal clear, and very, very fast. Dynamics snapped. I'll have them in a few weeks. Very excited. But...put a fork in me, I am "done". I have done WAY more upgrading this year than I anticipated. In fact, I didn't anticipate anything. So I'm making a deal with myself to stop here for quite a while. Here's my advice to anyone who, like me, didn't believe in cables making a difference: You are leaving a lot on the table. In fact, the better your gear, the more you are leaving on the table. In effect, if you have entry level cabling, you are paying $XXX for your gear, but you are only getting $XX in performance from the system as a whole. It's expensive, but you really do owe it to yourself to listen to some high end wires. I haven't ever heard anything better than Transparent, personally. But I admit I haven't heard some major brands in my setup, either. |
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